*Researchers analysed data from several different global surveys that included responses from consumers in their mid-20s through late 70s about their experiences with pain

*Experts worry about how this will affect consumers as they age

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Researchers from Princeton University, in a fresh study, found that education status could affect consumers鈥� pain levels, particularly in middle age.

According to their findings in the study, less-educated consumers report higher levels of pain in middle age than both elderly consumers and those who have completed four years of college, reports ConsumerAffairs.

Anne Case, one of the researchers, said: 鈥淭he connection between less-educated Americans and pain is shaped by a number of factors from income to social isolation to rising deaths of despair.

鈥淚t鈥檚 of great concern to us, as researchers, that it seems to be worsening.鈥�

In assessing accounts of chronic pain, the researchers analysed data from several different global surveys that included responses from consumers in their mid-twenties through late-seventies about their experiences with pain.

The researchers also included responses from participants born in different generations to better understand how experiences of chronic pain have remained the same or changed over time.

Report says the findings consistent with what the researchers were expecting in that the participants reported higher levels of pain as they aged.

However, as the researchers analysed the responses from different angles, they discovered that education status also played a large role.

For instance, participants who didn鈥檛 finish college reported the highest levels of pain at any age, with pain worsening over time.

This is important because this group experienced more pain during middle age than both middle-aged college graduates and elderly participants without college degrees. The study also revealed that each generation has reported higher levels of pain than the one before, which means that those presently in midlife who didn鈥檛 finish college are expected to endure more pain than those who came before them.

Case further stated: 鈥淭his seems to be an exclusively American phenomenon, as people in other rich countries do not report higher levels of pain in mid-life.鈥�

In helping consumers to manage pain, the researchers explained that several factors, both economic and emotional, are likely coming into play here.

However, these findings are important when thinking about future health care decisions.

As the population ages, having effective treatments in place to help consumers manage their pain will be key to maintaining a healthy life.

Researcher Sir Angus Deaton said: 鈥淧ain undermines quality of life, and pain is getting worse for less-educated Americans.

鈥淭his not only makes their lives worse but will pose long-term for a dysfunctional health care system that is not good at treating pain.鈥�